Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

121122Z Sep 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TEL AVIV 005597

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD

WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR NEA STAFF

SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA
HQ USAF FOR XOXX
DA WASHDC FOR SASA
JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR
COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD
COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019

JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD
LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

--------------------------------
SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
--------------------------------

1. IDF Withdrawal From Gaza

2. Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

3. Global War on Terror

-------------------------
Key stories in the media:
-------------------------

The IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, after 38 years
of Israeli military rule, dominated the headlines
during the weekend. The last Israeli troops left the
Strip this morning at around 7:00 Israel Time.

Israel Radio quoted Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as
saying this morning that, from now on, Israel would
hold the PA responsible for attacks from the Gaza
Strip.

Yediot quoted the next U.S. ambassador to Israel,
Richard Jones, as saying that the ball is in the
Palestinian court, and that they must now prove
themselves in administering Gaza, improving the
Palestinians' lives, and eradicating terror. Jones met
on Sunday with Israeli Consul General in New York Arye
Mekel, in advance of his arrival in Israel this
weekend. Yediot reported that, during his meeting with
Mekel, Ambassador Jones heard briefings on the
political developments in the region, and mainly about
the disengagement plan. Jones reportedly congratulated
Israel for its brave step, and emphasized that the Arab
states must now extend economic aid to the PA.

The electronic media reported that Palestinians set
fire to at least four empty synagogues in the Strip, as
PA forces failed to protect them. Jerusalem Post
reported that Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar received
promises this week from King Mohamed VI of Morocco and
Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali that they
would intervene to protect synagogues in the Gaza Strip
from destruction and desecration by Palestinians.
Israel Radio reported that State Department
Spokesperson Sean McCormack criticized the decision
made by the Israeli cabinet on Sunday not to demolish
the synagogues, saying that it "puts the Palestinian
Authority into a situation where it may be criticized
for whatever it does." On Sunday, the cabinet had
voted by a huge majority to leave them intact.
The media reported that on Sunday, the cabinet approved
the termination of Israeli presence along the
Philadelphi route. Egyptian troops started deploying
there the same day. The cabinet also authorized PM
Sharon, Vice Premier Shimon Peres, and Defense Minster
Shaul Mofaz to determine future security arrangements
for passage between Gaza and Egypt.

On Sunday, Maariv reported that The Washington Post
would publish an interview with Sharon that day, in
which he would declare that Israel will continue to
build in the large settlements despite the fact that
Israel has not received U.S. approval for this.

The media reported that PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud
Abbas announced last night that Israel has not yet
ended the occupation of Gaza, and that "the Strip is
one large prison, and the army's departure does not
change this situation." The media reported that the
PA's Civilian Affairs Minister Muhammad Dahlan
criticized Israel's closure of the Erez crossing and
the practical consequences for Palestinians of the
temporary arrangement made by Israel at Kerem Shalom.
Palestinian National Security Adviser Jibril Rajoub was
quoted as saying in an interview with Jerusalem Post
that the PA will take all necessary steps to fight
terror in Gaza provided Israel withdraws completely and
gives hope there will be negotiations over a
Palestinian state and more pullbacks from the West
Bank.

On Sunday, Jerusalem Post reported that Saudi Arabia
has agreed to lift certain aspects of its boycott
against Israel in an attempt to satisfy U.S. demands
regarding the Saudi request to join the World Trade
Organization.

All media noted, and various TV stations broadcast
special programs on the fourth anniversary of 9/11.
The media reported on 9/11 memorial ceremonies in the
U.S. Jerusalem Post reported that Dr. Helena Kane
Finn, Counselor For Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy
in Israel spoke Sunday at a local ceremony on behalf of
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer. U.S. Consul
General in Jerusalem Jacob Walles also spoke.
Jerusalem Post reported that Latin Patriarch Michel
Sabbah, the senior representative of the Catholic
Church in the Holy Land, called on the GOI at the event
to stop the "vicious cycle of violence."

On Sunday, Yediot reported that Sharon called Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak on Friday to congratulate him
upon his reelection. Mubarak received 88 percent of
the votes.

Major media quoted Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as
saying Friday, during a lecture he delivered before the
Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East
Policy in Washington, that there is no hostility
between Iraq and Israel. Talabani was responding to
questions from Israeli reporters. However, Talabani
reiterated his view that bilateral relations will start
only when Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders and a
Palestinian state is founded.

On Sunday, Maariv cited reports in the Turkish media
that Israel would open interest sections within Turkish
embassies in Muslim countries such Pakistan, Malaysia,
and Indonesia.

Ha'aretz reported that Israel is negotiating with the
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, to
arrange a first ever meeting with Al-Thani and Sharon
at the UN General Assembly this week.

Ha'aretz reported that former PM Ehud Barak officially
stepped down from the race for the Labor Party
chairmanship Sunday.

Leading media reported that Doron Almog, former head of
the IDF's Southern Command, escaped arrest on Sunday by
Britain's anti-terrorist and war crimes unit, when he
remained on an aircraft that had landed at Heathrow
Airport and returned with it to Israel several hours
later. The allegations concerned Almog's involvement
in military actions during the Intifada.

Jerusalem Post reported on humanitarian aid provided by
the Jewish American community to the victims of
Hurricane Katrina.

-----------------------------
1. IDF Withdrawal From Gaza:
-----------------------------

Summary:
--------

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The
PA will have to ... carry out what is required of it
according to the road map. If it does so, the chances
are good that in the foreseeable future, the exit from
Gaza will not be Israel's last exit from occupied
territories."

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv: "The time has come to
draw a border for this country, to put up a fence along
it, to affix a metal gate and gather inside."

Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote on page one
of mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Let no
one delude himself. The IDF's freedom of action in
response to terror attacks issuing from the Gaza Strip
will not increase -- on the contrary."

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
"Regardless of how the border control issues are worked
out, it is already clear that the fate of Gaza is in
Palestinian hands."

Block Quotes:
-------------

I. "Back to the Border of Sanity"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized
(September 12): "Thirty-eight years after Gaza was
occupied in what most of the public still believes was
a war of no choice, Israel is returning the Gaza Strip
to its legal owners as they are embodied in the
Palestinian Authority.... Although this was not Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's declared intention when he
initiated and carried out the disengagement, the exit
from the Gaza Strip is a very significant step on the
long road to Israeli-Palestinian peace. Now Israel is
entitled to expect that the PA will respond to the
Israeli move with steps of its own that will bring
peace a step closer. For this, the PA will have to
promise, first and foremost, that the border between
the Gaza Strip and Israel will be quiet, so that there
will no longer be any need for the IDF to cross it, as
well as carry out what is required of it according to
the road map. If it does so, the chances are good that
in the foreseeable future, the exit from Gaza will not
be Israel's last exit from occupied territories."

II. "End of Gaza Era"

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv (September 12): "Within
just over five years, Israel has completed the final
determination of two of its borders: the northern
border with Lebanon, and the southern one along the
Gaza Strip. The two moves were carried out
unilaterally, but with international agreement and the
approval of the UN. The new borders are known all over
the world. What could make the new line of Gaza
effective is what makes the 'blue line of Lebanon'
effective: sweeping international legitimacy, global
recognition, the air umbrella of the nations of the
world, and the knowledge, that from now on, in the
absence of occupation, the rules of the enlightened
world will be enforced here.... The dream of Greater
Israel has ended, buried dishonorably, hastily, almost
without any suffering. The next prime minister,
whoever it will be ('even Bibi') will continue the
process. The time has come to draw a border for this
country, to put up a fence along it, to affix a metal
gate and gather inside."

III. "No Illusions"

Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote on page one
of mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot
(September 12): "Let no one delude himself. The IDF's
freedom of action in response to terror attacks issuing
from the Gaza Strip will not increase -- on the
contrary.... The impact of an artillery shell in a
populated area of the Gaza Strip, which is one of the
densest regions on the face of the planet, will create
a human and political catastrophe. The [IDF's] Judge
Advocate General will immediately declare this a
'disproportionate' action. No one will authorize such
a response. Artillery can be fired at open areas. But
Qassam rockets and mortar shells are not fired from
open areas, but rather from yards, from populated
neighborhoods. Then how exactly can the sentence 'we
too have mortars' be backed up?.... An electronic wall
has been built facing Gaza. The Air Force is planning
an electronic ceiling that will enable it continuous
monitoring of Gaza from the air, intelligence gathering
and immediate responsive fire. It will take a long
time until this ceiling is built and becomes effective.
Until then, we will have to invest a great deal in
protective measures."

IV. "Gaza's Gate"

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(September 12): "Since the launching of Oslo, Israel
has been saying to the PA, 'Take a state, please.'
Only now is it beginning to dawn on the international
community that it is the PA, not Israel, which has been
saying no.... If the Palestinians decide to start
building the peaceful state they claim they want,
Israel will not only refrain from interfering, but
stands ready and able to do much to help. Throughout
Oslo's heyday, Israeli ministers cooked up elaborate
plans for economic cooperation through industrial parks
and international-financed joint megaprojects. Under
Arafat, the PA would have none of it. Mahmoud Abbas
also seems to be in no hurry to engage Israel
economically, despite claiming that improving
Palestinian lives is his top priority. Regardless of
how the border control issues are worked out, it is
already clear that the fate of Gaza is in Palestinian
hands. Now we will see if they are ready to make
constructive use of it."

-----------------------------------
2. Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:
-----------------------------------

Summary:
--------

Yahad-Meretz Knesset Member Yossi Sarid wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "George Bush is
without a doubt the most terrifying president America
has ever had.... Who is going to tell a shepherd what
is good for his flock while it is drowning in a flood?"

Block Quotes:
-------------

"After Bush -- the Deluge"

Yahad-Meretz Knesset Member Yossi Sarid wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (September 12):
"George Bush is without a doubt the most terrifying
president America has ever had.... When there is a
messianic vision composed of faith-based pie-in-the-
sky, the earth seems to be jolted off its axis and
begins to spin out of control.... Instead of running
the world and its inhabitants, as one may expect of the
leader of the free world, Bush acts as someone who is
reinventing the world on a mission from God.... What
[does] Bush ... care if the ozone layer is
disintegrating, the greenhouse effect is intensifying,
the oceans are warming up, the desert is expanding not
only in Africa and Asia but also in Europe, and the
number of hungry is growing by the hundreds of
millions?.... It may very well be that the warming of
the oceans contributed to Katrina, but who is going to
tell a shepherd what is good for his flock while it is
drowning in a flood?"

-------------------------
3. Global War on Terror:
-------------------------

Summary:
--------

Chief Economic Editor and senior columnist Sever
Plotker wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot
Aharonot: "Contrary to forecasts by bin Laden (and by
the part of Western public opinion that is attracted by
dreams of the decline of America) ... the American
empire hasn't disintegrated."

Block Quotes:
-------------

"Islamic Terror's Largest Attack Against Itself"

Chief Economic Editor and senior columnist Sever
Plotker wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot
Aharonot (September 11): "Now, as [during the fall of
Communism,] the United States, in particular its
president, who is imbued with a militant ideology, has
played a key role in pushing for democratization [of
the Middle East]. Then and now, its enemies haven't
properly assessed the natural attraction of
democracy.... [But] positive developments can still be
reversed; fanatic Islam is far from being vanquished.
It has actually been strengthening in Middle Eastern
areas occupied by the U.S. and its charm is great among
young Arabs from Western Europe, who lack identity....
Contrary to forecasts by bin Laden (and by the part of
Western public opinion that is attracted by dreams of
the decline of America) ... the American empire hasn't
disintegrated. What has -- gradually -- been falling
apart is the evil empire of the Islamic fanatics. In a
sober retrospective outlook, the planes that were made
to crash four years ago into the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon represented Islamic terror's largest
attack against itself."

KURTZER

© Scoop Media